Finally today, we announce the winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 6th, January, 2006. Your company or your personal e-mail address, won in the second lottery category 002.

You are therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of £5,500,000.00 FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS. Equivalent to ($10,064,000 USD) Ten Million, sixty four thousand US Dollars. In cash Credited to file REF NO: M154S/WL04. And MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465021, you are the second lucky winner of the total winners of 10. You all won £5.5, million Pounds each.

All the 10 participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system (MCBS) drawn from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, to promote the use of emails all over the World, and to promote the use of Microsoft Office. Your funds (certified Cashiers cheque) have been insured with your REF NO: M154S/WL04. To claim your winning prize (£5.5, million pounds), you must first, contact the claims department by email for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims processor is:
(CLAIMS OFFICER)
Name:William Cambell
E mail:williamcambell@uk2.net

Do email the above email addresses, all at once with all the claims requirements below. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.

NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims processor immediately by email. If you have any difficulties call the promotion director MR. Andrew Gregry on PHONE # :( 00944) 702 305 0856, (00944) 702 305 0857, (00944) 702 305 0858. This promo is all about emails, be aware.

WARNING!!!
ANY MAIL RECIEVED OF THIS SUCH WITH ANY OTHER TRADE MARK OR ADDRESS SHOULD BE FOWARDED TO YOUR CLAIMS AGENT IMMEDIATELY; THIS WILL HELP US TO FIGHT SCAM AND LOTTERY IMPOSTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.

The recipient encouraged further information and received the following:

Thanks for the mail we got your details now you are through with step one of claiming your winnings, you are to proceed.

Basically, there are three options for you to get your prize/money, you are to choose one. The three options include the Bank, Travel to London and the courier firm. The bank is reliable for both bank SWIFT wire transfer, diplomatic bank transfer and inters bank transfer while the courier firm is to courier the winning cheque to you or your local bank any where you wish to have your cheque.

These three options has been the best reliable ways of getting won prizes to our winners, mostly international winners who can not make their ways to our cash presentation financial house in London where winners are been paid in cash. Below are the options please, do not choose more than one, just choose one out of these options. Be aware that you will be responsible for any further charges to be paid to claim your prize. These charges are quiet high due to the insurance taken to secure these winnings as it is not a small Prize.

(2): TRAVEL TO OUR OFFSHORE PAYMENT CENTER IN LONDON WHERE YOU WILL BE PAID FULL IN CASH.

(3): BY OUR COURIER FIRM, WHERE THEY WILL COURIER YOUR WINNING CHEQUE TO YOU OR ANY ADDRESS YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR CHEQUE COURIERED TO DIRECTLY TO YOUR LOCAL BANK OR YOUR HOUSE. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ALSO CHOOSE ONE OF THIS.

PROCEEDURES:
____________

(1): This Bank is reliable and has been one of our major sponsors. They are fast in any form of transfer with the minimum of three days and maximum of five days your funds will appear straight in your designated account. Despite the fact that their minimum activation (Deposit) fee is quiet High I assure you they are reliable. You will only pay into your new account the minimum of £1,500 GB pounds choose by you before transfer. This money remains in your account and can still be transferred to you along with your Prize/money. You can retain this account if you wish to.

First, you will be asked to choose an account (1. Regular Account. 2. Daily Account 3. Premium Account. 4. Platinum Account). Each of this accounts have their different functions. You will also have to activate one this account that you are capable of. By activation you will be asked to make an initial deposit into this new account before transfer that is all.

(2): Travel to our offshore payment center in UK LONDON, where you will be paid in full cash. The only charges involve is that you must have to go there with some money to settle tax and other charges; this will not be more than 6,000 GB pounds.

(3): The use of our courier firm, this option is often preferred by most winners. Where your prize/money will be couriered directly to you or your local bank any where you want it. The courier charge is normal with little insurance and administrative charges added. You are to make sure the address of where you want your prize/money couriered to. Be correct with no mistakes. They do not deliver parcels to P.O.BOX they do not allow the use of credit cards this is for security reason. This courier charges are between the ranges of £450 GB Pounds to £650 GB Pounds. No matter where you are located in the World.

Be aware that nobody is allowed to neither touch nor deduct from your prize/money as it has been insured in your name and to it actual value. You are to choose one out of the three pre-requisite of transfer of the aforementioned options or procedures of transfer of your entitled winnings to you. In your next mail you are expected to indicate to us your preferred choice of transfer. You are allowed to reach the Director for further explanations on phone.

I hope to hear from you soon, for now remain Blessed and do have a nice day.

Regards,
Mr.William Cambell
(CLAIM OFFICER)

Bill Campbell isn't someone who gives up easily, as evidenced by this follow-up a couple of months later:

How are you doing, I would like to know the situation of things as to claiming your winnings, going through your file again, I saw your winning cheque of GBP 5.5 Million Pounds is with our Courier firm and you are still yet to claim your winnings,

I will like to know the situation of things, when you intend to claim your winnings, please get back to me soon so we can know the next step to take in making sure you receive your winnings, it is my duty that you receive it so you have to understand my curiousity.

I still wait for your reply.

William is so eager for R.H. to claim his 'winnings' that he sent the same message again a couple of weeks later with the header: